Verbena plant named ‘AKIV571-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘AKIV571-1’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright, mounding to trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; violet-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and resistance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘AKIV571-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘AKIV571-1’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new compact Verbenaplants with numerous flowers and resistance to Powdery Mildew.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 14, 2007 in Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedlingselection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 07V424-03, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedlingselection of Verbena hybrida identified as ‘Nioimurasaki’, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall,Calif. on Jun. 11, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 12, 2008 has shownthat the unique features of this new Verbena plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘AKIV571-1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘AKIV571-1’ as a new and distinct Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright, mounding to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Violet-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the        foliar plane.    -   6. Resistant to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more compact than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have shorter internodes than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have smaller flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Verbena and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have pale pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more upright than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger leaves than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘USBENAL8’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,853. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newVerbena differed primarily from plants of ‘USBENAL8’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were more compact than plants of        ‘USBENAL8’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena were more freely branching than        plants of ‘USBENAL8’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena had narrower leaves than plants of        ‘USBENAL8’.    -   4. Plants of the new Verbena had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘USBENAL8’.

Plants of the new Verbena can also be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘Lan Bule’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,604. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newVerbena differed primarily from plants of ‘Lan Bule’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Lan Bule’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘Lan Bule’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Lan Bule’ had dark blue violet-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Verbena plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘AKIV571-1’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘AKIV571-1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following descriptionwere grown under conditions which closely approximate commercialproduction conditions during the spring in 15-cm containers in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 32° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were nineweeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘AKIV571-1’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Verbena hybrida identified as code number 07V424-03, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Verbena hybrida identified as ‘Nioimurasaki’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium in density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright, mounding to            trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about six            primary lateral branches developing per plant each with            numerous secondary branches; pinching enhances lateral            branch development; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 49 cm by 53 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 31 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.        -   Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 146A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong to elliptical.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Irregularly crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,            close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 148C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 147C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform sessile flowers            arranged in compact hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers            face upward or outward; freely flowering habit with about 30            flowers per inflorescence.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring through the autumn in California; plants begin            flowering about six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.8 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Tube diameter, proximal.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to N88A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals            fused towards the base into a narrow tube. Petal lobe            length: About 7 mm. Petal lobe width: About 5 mm. Petal lobe            shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate to            cordate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Petal,            when opening, upper surface: Close to N89A. Petal, when            opening, lower surface: Close to 90A. Petal, fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 86B; with development, color            becoming closer to 86C with close to 91A to 91B towards the            base. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 90A; does            not fade with development. Throat: Close to 145D. Tube:            Close to 92B to 92C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused            towards the base into a narrow tube. Sepal length: About            1 cm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly            lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal texture,            lower surface: Pubescent. Sepal color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Four per            flower, filaments are adnate to corolla tube. Filament            length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C. Anther            shape: Oval, bi-lobed. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther            color: Close to 153A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to N144A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.8 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded, bi-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length: About 1.5 cm.            Style color: Close to N145A to N145B. Ovary color: Close to            144A. Fruits/seed: Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Verbena.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 46° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been    observed to be tolerant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Verbena    have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens    common to Verbena plants.

1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘AKIV571-1’ as illustrated anddescribed.